This is an important heads up. Quite by accident I noticed last week that BG Micro hit a mother load of the AY-3-8910 and is selling them at the insane price of $3.95. I just received three today. Here's the link:

If you're not familiar with this 40 pin chip, here's a brief rundown. It has three each of: VCOs, EGs, VCAs (exponentially stepped, no less!), noise sources and mixers. You read right---there's three each of all of these. All are controlled via register logic.

Moreover, there are two uncommitted 8-bit bidirectional data ports, again accessible via registers! These could essentially give you a free CV and pitchbend output with some DACs, or give 16 triggers for drums, or LCD/keypad I/O, or...the mind boggles.

I built a unit with one of these back in 1983 or thereabouts to connect to the Commodore 64 and controlled it via the Forth language. I never thought I would see this chip again, but here it is ready to enter the MIDI world (among other things) using a PIC chip or something similar.

but I suggest getting a scan of the original. Do a Google of "AY-3-8910 datasheet" and you'll find tons of info.

Anyway, I expect to do a three voice MIDI controlled AY-Voice project during my next school break. If anyone wants to follow along, I'd recommend jumping on BG Micro's bargain while the going is good. I have no relationship with them, but do recognize a great price when I see it.

first time iv heard of this chip. for the price compared to other 8 bit chips like the SID. seems like a good idea to play around with it. I know your project will turn out nice and I'll definitely be looking out for it _________________mY MusIc
http://www.myspace.com/toyboxbastard

Ok, not fair (really I'm being kinda silly here, but still). I came to this forum originally for the purpose of getting an SN voice board. And now I find this thread. I've been poking and prodding at the 8910 off and on for a few months now. I've been using an Arduino board for the interface. Not a whole lot of progress yet and what I had coded was lost in computer land when my hard drive fried right before a scheduled back up. I have all manner of notes written down in my Calculus, Russian History and Physics notebooks though.

Hi All! This looks like a really cool forum. I come from a background with the Vectrex which uses the AY-3-8912, so I'm interested in this project as well. Unlike some who have expressed distaste in the AY sound, I love it! I can sit and listen to tracks on the StSound95 player for hours... and I have a few 8910's to play with as well.

It's definitely happening...I'm still on schedule and summer vacation is the intended ETA.

But since my first announcement, as part of the project a new book was inspired. In fact, the book (and it's a big one) is about 2/3 done now. There are 39 circuits which I have drawn up, written up and even photoed up (having gotten a digital camera finally).

The book and the AY-Voice should be done by mid-summer, but then there's always the turnaround time of the publisher to get it out.

Anyway, this really is a cool project, and the book it engendered is turning out to be a real hoot to write.

Wow, that sounds amazing Thomas! Is it going to be Forrest M. Mims III style or something entirely different? That's a ton of circuits based on the AY-3-8910, which should be a ground-breaking publication. I wish you success in getting it published.

Seeing that B.G. only had a handful of the AY-3-8910 left, I went ahead and got myself a few.

Oooo! Thank you for making mention of that! In anticipation of a new book from Thomas as WELL, I went to check stock at BG (whom I've purchased from in the past.) Only 9 chips left in stock. I ordered 2 of them. Looks like I'll be ordering Thomas's book as well, once it's released.

It would be really disappointing if by the time Thomas finished the book the chips became rare/expensive.

I wouldn't worry about it, BG Micro isn't the only discount fish in the sea with these. I found other sources that will sell them dirt cheap as well, but you have to buy 500 at a time ^_^~ Basically that just means BG Micro will probably snack up another mother load of these when they run out, or someone else will.

It would be really disappointing if by the time Thomas finished the book the chips became rare/expensive.

Well, actually, the book has nothing to do with the AY chip. As I mentioned earlier, the book idea was engendered as a step in getting ready to implement the AY-Voice. In particular, it has to do with microprocessor control of musical and other circuits in general and came along as a necessary first step in breadboarding the AY circuit.

Anyway, I'm finally a free man for the summer and expect to get started on the AY circuit next week, along with finishing the book. Also, Scott Stites and I expect to have a surprise VCO soon.

MPU control? A new VCO? Boy am I (possibly) glad that I just got myself the PICkit 3 to learn. (As well as the new VCO - being majorly happy with your dual tranny triangle VCO/VCLFO from the 3080 book. Woohoo! )

Well, it looks like BG did restock their supply of ay-3-8910's. I did get the three I ordered in the mail today, though. Nothing more exciting than a tube of synth chips showing up in the mail box._________________Shaggy
http://www.pureshift.comhttp://www.bsodmusic.com

You cannot post new topics in this forumYou cannot reply to topics in this forumYou cannot edit your posts in this forumYou cannot delete your posts in this forumYou cannot vote in polls in this forumYou cannot attach files in this forumYou can download files in this forum

Please support our site. If you click through and buy from our affiliate partners, we earn a small commission.